Chapter 29: Mysterious Happenings.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online.
Author's Note: Italicized words without the use of Bold stand for thoughts or flashbacks.
Sinon's P.O.V
Being with Tadaiku seems to have made him look more confident on what he's planning… He may seem to be too rash and risky but he's actually very analytic and vigilant. His weapon of choice is the Feral Zweihander which utilizes the user's willpower to activate its special skill… His hair seems to have become quite longer due to his time in Zero's prison but the color of brown still stays. He also has become quite pale ever since he came back which worries me.
It also seems that we're in the Cave area, a pitch black area… Luckily, he had some torches and so we began exploring the cave.
He says that this dangerous cave is a shortcut so that we could arrive at the 'Door of the excommunicated' faster. The only thing I was concerned about was that I have the strangest feeling like we're being followed by someone… While we were jumping through a river inside the cave with help from some stones floating, I was preparing an arrow from my quiver and I secretly had my bow held by my grip already so that I could take out any hostility in a fast-paced manner.
"Whoever is there, show yourself to us now… I will not be taken in by such a simple sign of trickery…" I gave a warning shot which shocked Tadaiku. "I'm only saying this once more— show yourself or else you shall pay respects against this bow."
The shadow that was following us, finally showed itself and it was actually revealed to be Zero. He had his hands raised and he showed not a sing sign of attacking or intervening so I put down my bow and placed my arrow back to its quiver.
The darkness of the cave which Tadaiku and I are in didn't really help since it was so dark that I couldn't even see Zero well with the torches we currently had. I don't know his reasons of following us but he better not have the nerve of trying to arrest Tadaiku again… If he attempted to do that, I don't know what I'd do… If he was his friend… then that would make a whole new distinct story from what I though… This guy knows the origin of most players of Sword Art Online so I don't trust him at all.
"A fine dark cave, right? How are you and Okudaira Takanori doing, Asada Shino?" He whistled as he walked around the dark cave but he did not escape my glance even by a second… (I do not trust him…) "I'm not here to arrest my friend back but instead, I am here to support the both of you on this little quest that you two are in… You would need another fighter like me…"
His motive seems to be reasonable since he's a friend of Tadaiku but the way he offered it was the one that made me feel the most suspicious. How did he even get here by himself? Did he have a clear crystal like what Tadaiku has from his Feral Zweihander? His Shieldblade seems to give an indigo aura as he smiled.
"I don't trust you at all… Leader of the Investigators Guild, Zero… You know the names of most players playing this death game, Sword Art Online… My sources even say that you were a former mercenary who was stationed in the Mercenary Guild a year ago… What made you reform the Investigators Guild then?" I gazed at him as I stayed beside Tadaiku who was just watching his friend and waiting for his answer.
"Tsk… I knew you wouldn't trust a stranger but please remember that I'll still help you two either way… I have a debt to pay to Tadaiku and I will pay it now… I shall see you both outside…" He parted ways with us as he threw a crystal up, signaling me to catch it which I did. "That crystal should help you in finding Yanaihara Koyero… think of it as a GPS for people. You can even spot other players with that baby… Make good use of it. It helped me countless times and now it is your turn to use it to the fullest…"
The way he left made me wonder… He was actually a good honest guy… I thought that he was a cold and judgmental player who would make haste in his arrests and not care of the player he captured… The rumors were most definitely wrong. He isn't that kind of person and now with this crystal, signifies that I now trust him— but he better not lead us to a trap by using it or else he'll pay for backstabbing me in this crucial moment…
Tadaiku looked at me with is understanding cyan eyes and softly ruffled my hair which I made him immediately stop by pinching his hand after a few seconds of him doing that. The moment I met him, I thought that Tadaiku would be a nuisance as I go through this deadly game but he made by expectations change once I knew how a valuable ally he was… I'd team up with Kirito but this guy has gotten through a lot with me so among all the players that tried partying up with me, he's the one I trust the most to the point where I let him live with me in my hideout (In another room of course).
"Oi, Taka! Stop ruffling my hair…" I slapped his hand away when he started to ruffle it once more while we were travelling to the right since there was a crossroad a while back but thanks to the crystal, we're not lost for now.
"Why do you keep calling me by 'Taka' whenever you're mad at me, Shino-san?" The moment he called me by my real name, made me stop him from continuing and I looked at him awkwardly.
"Please call me Sinon and not by my real name, Taka…" I turned away which made him oblige and call me just Sinon again. "Anyway, we should be close to getting out of this cave, Tadaiku… This crystal says that just a few more minutes should be enough before we see the light of day again."
The crystal that Zero gave actually helped us navigate through that cave quicker than I anticipated… I was expecting us to be slightly loss and being forced to trace our steps back to where we started so that we could go out but this crystal we helping us navigate around the cave with much ease. Tadaiku said there would be traps but we haven't encountered a single trap ever since the start… My trap-seeing skill is at max so what did you expect?
The torches we had lighted our way and we managed to defeat every monster that was blocking our way. My unique skill in Archery seems to have gotten an update and this update now lets me add special effects to my arrows without the use of crystals now. The catch was that I had to sacrifice some of my stamina whenever I coat my arrows with something by just using willpower. The catch does not count if I coat it manually though but doing that takes time and space (in my inventory)… This update actually helped for once to someone like me, the only one that can use Archery in Sword Art Online.
"We're almost there, Sinon-san. Just a few more steps and we should be able to get out of—" Before Tadaiku could finish his sentence, a blade stabbed through his chest which made my eyes widen in pure horror as I saw him drop on the ground, with his HP gradually weakening… I cannot let another stab occur on him or else he'll… no matter I shouldn't strain myself like this… I used a potion on him and prepared my bow.
I looked at the coward who just stabbed him from behind and I found out it was a blonde guy with a shrouded dark cloak and a glove with a crystal embedded on it… This coward is no other than Ze, a minor pivotal player from Scarlet Temptation and is known for cowardly tactics and unhonorable kills. I had my aim directly at him but all he did was unsheathe his paralyzing blade and laughed.
"They call Tadaiku equal to 2 high-leveled players?! Don't make me laugh! He couldn't even avoid my special paralyzing technique! Ku, are you there? Let's defeat this woman together!" He spat as his ally, Ku came into the field with his brand new katana… "We'll show you the true horrors of Scarlet Temptation… Archer!"
The guy with him seems honorable in fights since he didn't seem to attack while Ze was speaking but I knew I had to fight him too. His silver hair and eyes gazed at me like I wasn't there and stood beside Ze… From my observation, Ze's not as powerful without Ku so if I manage to make Ku retreat then Ze would probably do the same…
"Gomen… Archer Sinon… I don't want to kill you but my orders state that I must defeat you with Ze so this is nothing personal." Ku gave an apology as he lifted up his katana. "You deserve a painless death… for you do not deserve a torturing one so… we shall use the twin skill which is best when together…"
"You shall pay for pulling off such a cowardly move on my partner… I will defeat the both of you and I will not let either one of you point a blade at him while he's unable to fight…" I shot 10 arrows simultaneously which made them barely evade but I kicked Ze on the gut at the time he dodged it. "If you're going to hurt Tadaiku, you will have to get through me…"
"Be careful what you wish for, missy!" Ze held Ku's katana blade at the exact same time as Ku as they focused on their skill. "The wind that is fast for even you to comprehend shall befall on you and your friend…"
"The Two Kazes!" They disappeared from my sight but since I knew Scarlet Temptation more than anybody, I knew they'd strike for my back and so I shot 2 paralyzing arrows using my willpower and so my arrows were now coated with paralytic properties but they didn't know that… "Strike!" The two of them were about to attack from the exact area that I anticipated… and so I shot an arrow on each of them with ease when I turned back.
"You should really change those tactics of yours, Ze… I already told the rest of my friends that you would always aim for the back since if you attack there successfully, the opponent will be paralyzed… but since you kept using the same method, I deduced where you would strike next with Ku… since that skill is a joint skill where you both have to be together for it to work…" I explained how I knew where he was which made him grit his teeth in anger.
"T-This isn't over, Archer Sinon! I swear upon my ranking that I will defeat you the next time we meet!" Ze, unable to move growled out of anger. "I will find you and assassinate you…"
"Good guess…" Ku seems to be not angry but rather impressed. "That's to be expected from a player like you… go now, before our paralysis is gone. I'm looking forward to battling you again, Archer Sinon. For now, I'll let you go but I don't think my partner would stop with these tantrums so go…"
"Sayonara…" I carried Tadaiku on my back and began leaving but before that, I looked at Ku (he's the one who actually gave that information secretly to me since he doesn't like killing all that much). "Arigato, Kurizama… I'll be leaving now… I don't have anything to say to Ze though…" I left for real with Tadaiku on my back.
Mishoro's P.O.V
I, as the pivotal unit of Scarlet Temptation must defeat the pivot unit of that mysterious Phantom guild since they may intervene in our plans… I heard from master Hozume that Kanami may become a future threat to us… I began following her trail by using one of the crystals that master Hozume gave me… I kept thinking of how Scarlet Temptation was formed and how I joined it while I was venturing around the Floor of Exile, searching for the female assassin.
I was part of the original family which was peacefully residing inside an alley with an underground home somewhere in Japan (I will not tell the place). We were all starving and thirsty so as a senior to the family, I assigned myself to gather food and drinks for the family to survive… I had to even go as far as to steal from the rich people… I never wanted to have anything to do with it but it was for my family… We were dying…
My bandana, which is wrapped to cover my face, is used to hide my identity and to avoid any accidental breathing. My real hair color is a slight cyan tinted color and my eyes are ruby red… I still remember those times before that tragic incident with Hozume's father and the escape of Koyero… life just wasn't the same after that…
Those words…
Mishoro-nii-chan!
Help us…
We're dying…
M-My hand…
Please… get… Kowero-chan back…
That is my last wish…
Mi-chan…
Don't forget about me…
I felt my head ache as soon as I remembered those words… I thought I already got over it— but… those precious memories still reside somewhere in my mind… As one of the eldest… I couldn't protect them… Kuso! Here come those words of guilt again…
Don't make me laugh…
You're the eldest?!
Why couldn't you protect them then?!
I shall vanquish you… without those other three around you… are… finished…
That girl's sacrifice will be in vain…
It felt like I was at the exact same scenario of when that happened but I knew that this was just a distant memory that haunts me even till now… The time… when we were attacked… those unhonorable people were trying to fight us run-aways… I don't know why this Floor of Exile makes my memories suddenly appear but I do admit that this floor makes me shudder… Another memory occurred but this time it was when I was still around level 45 and I was preparing for the forming of Scarlet Temptation…
We were not planning to become PKs but once one of our seniors became interested in it due to Laughing Coffin, we slowly became PKs without knowing it… we were just supposed to find Koyero so that he could come back to us but that didn't work out all because of one of our seniors becoming filled with bloodlust… Our once reasonable guild became a guild with PKs who have gotten rallied by one senior who has gotten inspired to do so.
I finally went to the location where this pivot unit of theirs is currently stationed in. Once we saw each other, we pulled our weapons out. I pulled out one of my classical small blades while she took out a curved sword which is curved at the edge. Her long raven hair was covering her hazel eyes slightly which made me feel some sort of feeling in my chest… She looks… just like her… like that one girl I had my eyes on which I failed to protect…
Her armor looked like some sort of kendo uniform but no matter how you look at it, her weapon is definitely not just a wooden sword…
"This is nothing personal but I must defeat you due to orders from my master…" I grabbed one of my traps and planted it on the ground.
"What a coincidence…" She began charging at me which made us both start clashing.
It was a battle between two assassins so you can expect that this is one extremely speedy fight. She had no opening at all! She perfectly recovered from each time she attempts to jab me with a punch and slashing me with her blade… The barehanded and sword combo, eh? It is quite rare to see this kind of fighting style from someone.
"Have you ever heard of my secret technique then?" The woman in armor muttered as she almost landed a small scratch on my cheek using a small knife secretly being held by her left hand. "I'll at least say that my name is Kanami so I do hope you remember that name."
"Tsk… Don't think I'll be going easy on you just because you're a woman!" I slid my finger near my glove and activated the crystal embedded on it. "Tukorop's skill with his crystal is continuous diminishing in durability but mine's ability is named, Mastermind Assassin…"
We were both far from each other so I activated my unique skill in caging but she easily disarmed the trap which I activated by stabbing it with her curved blade.
The result made me wince one I knew that she actually broke one of the traps I have set with that much ease… I rushed towards her with an assassin's dagger equipped but she easily parried me and hit my head with the hilt of her blade, making me tumble but I easily recovered after stabbing a blade on the ground.
"Where is this ability of yours then? I thought that you'd show me an amazing move that will overwhelm me… As a servant of Husharu-sama, I will not lose!" She began preparing her skill.
"Well then… my skill is ready as well but we shall see which skill shall best which… Assassin's…" The crystal in my glove disappeared and I charged. "Assassin's Deceit!" I finished and spun my dagger around before getting my Forceful Wind from my belt.
"Your skill is the attack type? Gomen but my skill is an effect type…" Her words made me doubt myself for a while but I continued on. "This is nothing personal too, Weziruge Mishoro… May this blade trespass all boundaries and land on you… Lingering Trauma!" She made my hand stop from getting my blade by touching it with her curved blade.
"W-Why can't I move it?!" I twitched in pain as she sighed. "Kanami…"
Weziruge Mishoro?! That's a long name… Let me call you Mi-chan! It's shorter right?
Hehe… Fine… I'll let this slide…
Arigato, Mi-chan!
I'll call you Ka-chan then… if you're okay with it.
Aww… That's cute, Mi-chan… That's a cute nickname you gave me!
Eto… It is not… It's just fair that if you give me a nickname then I should have the right to call you one too…
I see…
Yeah…
I miss my sister already… She's been adopted by a family leaving me all alone… but at least I was able to stumble in here and join your family! It made me happy again… that people are finally noticing me…
That's sad… At least you'll feel right at home right here, Ka-chan… As an older one, I must protect all of you but I promise that I will protect you…
Anyway since I'm part of this familiy, can I make you promise me something aside from protecting me, Mi-chan?
What is it Ka-chan?
Make my sister happy and if you could… marry her when you get older… I'd love to see her happy.
S-Sure? But why this sudden request? I don't think she'll like someone like me though…
I just know that she's being all depressed now and I want you as my brother so we can become closer, Mi-chan! I want to be closer to you…
Ka-chan…
Anyway, Arigato, Mi-chan for accepting!
Not a problem, Ka-chan… What is the name of your older sister then?
Her name is Mayasaki Kanami! She looks just like me but older.
… I see… You should probably go to sleep now. You're still one of the younger people of the family so you should probably go to sleep Ka-chan… I'll keep my promise so you don't have to worry about it.
Aww… I don't want to sleep but if you say so…
Good girl, now sleep.
…
She's already asleep… I swear on my life that I will do my best to protect you Ka-chan… I'll sacrifice my sanity and body if it is needed to protect you…I don't care what happens to me as long as you are safe… I will keep my promise to you… We will be together forever… I'll even sacrifice my arm or leg if it will protect you from harm… I am your protector, Ka-chan…
These memories again?! Not now! I was still clashing with Kanami but I quickly backed away which made the both of us circle each other cautiously.
"Can I ask you something before we continue?" I circled around her as she gave a sigh and obliged with a nod.
"Sure… what may your question be?" She began listening but she still had that protective stance just in case I attack but I wouldn't.
"Are you—" I couldn't finish but I tried my best to continue although that lump in my throat was still there. "Mayasaki Kanami?" I finished.
Author's Note: A change of plans for the Extra Scene has arrived so I will make this the Extra Scene for now and make the original one in the next chapter.
Extra Scene: Preview for Paradise Lost
Author's Note: This is the Preview of my next story that I will make and it is the sequel of Fighting till the End. This will take place 20 years later after the completion of Sword Art Online in my story.
The symbol '( )' or Italicized words now stand for either thoughts or a flashback scene.
Sakina's P.O.V
My player name is Sakina and I am the only daughter of Kirigaya Kazuto and Kirigaya Asuna (formerly Yuuki Asuna though). I am a 14 year old Junior Highschool Student and I am part of Class 3-C. I have shoulder length dark raven hair and the eyes of my father. I am a good cook like my mother and I won't hesitate to hurt you when you make me use my wrath…
I just came back from school after a stressful afternoon with our Class Representative, Yanaihara Chitaka who claims that his name came from the element Titanium but I don't really believe him… He's a gamer like me but I think he doesn't take some things seriously… He may be quite decent in fighting in games but in real life, he can still be the same…
Yanaihara Chitaka is the son of both Yanaihara Koyero and Yanaihara Keiko (Who was formerly Ayano Keiko) who are both seemingly close friends to my Otou-san and Oka-san… He is our Class Representative and is a straight 90% or higher student which means he mostly gets high grades. He has medium length brown hair and his hazel eyes apparently came from his mother. He seems to be uninterested in joining the brand new game which will start its debut tomorrow… I don't know why he does not want to join but I just let it be.
I was walking to my house since it was quite near the school I'm attending. Otou-san and Oka-san told me to go there as soon as possible and wait for them to come back from the final testing of the game. They probably got some copies of the game due to being testers but I have to patiently wait for them anyway. When I arrived, nobody was there, making me feel quite lonely. Not even my aunt, Suguha was here.
Nobody's here? I thought at least Suguha-chan would at least be here to accompany me. Might as well call up a friend of mine to keep me company then… I hope our phone bills won't be too high.
I took of my shoes and placed it on the floor and began my way inside. I placed my things on one of the tables which we usually use to play Monopoly or something when I was younger… My parents and I don't play that as much as before but we still play it when we need to burn up time.
Things have gotten advanced ever since 10 years ago. We could now just make a voice mail instead of just going to our phones but we could still use it… I pressed my bracelet and a menu appeared in front of me. This menu is like those menus where you use to communicate in games but this one seems to add new features since it can be now used in real life. You could even start one of your games at any time but the catch is that you must be at rest and not moving.
The game that is about to be released still has the real time feature so you cannot stay there for long. I wanted to call Zukiro Mizuso but it seems he was busy himself waiting for his parents to come home as well… I even attempted to call Ushara Kirara-chan but she was busy and had the same reason… The only one that would respond to my call immediately left was Yanaihara Chitaka… I called him via phone this time and he accepted almost immediately and said that he'll be on his way… Did I make a mistake?
It took some time before he arrived at the Kirigaya residence but he did while panting out of fatigue… Did he just run 2 kilometers from his house to mine?! After he was done recovering from that run, he looked at me with a small grin on his face.
"Ahh… Kirigaya-chan. What did you need from me again? I kind of forgot why I was running after I ran a kilometer already…" He laughed a bit to himself then looked at me with a small enthusiastic face as soon as he got his energy back. "If it is something about that newly released game then please stop trying to convince me about it… Otou-san's job may be a game tester and a game editor but I've stopped looking up to him ever since we entered high school… I'll be waiting for Oka-san… Otou-san should at least stop being a mood swinger at least… He's embarrassing me…"
"You should cut your father some slack at least Yanaihara…" I sighed since he has always treated his father like this for who knows why? "He may be sometimes annoying at times but I know that he's doing it just so he could hear your laughs again…"
"You're always like that Kirigaya-chan… Always trying to make people get along but this one is different…" He replied with a grim expression. "My father and I may have gotten along while I was elementary but now it changed… I cannot tell even you why."
"… Might as well play something to burn the time…" I recommended as I touched my bracelet so that I could materialize a board on the table. "Want to play some Monopoly then? I'm saving up my energy so that I could try the new game…"
"If you say so, Kirigaya-chan… my father, Koyero may be annoying at times but—" He stopped himself from talking midway through his sentence. "Forget what I said about that… Let's play that board game you wanted to play."
We started playing and it ended an hour later with me as the winner. Do not underestimate me in this game… I am very picky when it comes to money-based games…
It's already quite late… where are they? I'm getting worried… Yanaihara has already slept on the couch but my parents haven't arrived yet… Not even Aunt Suguha is here yet… What's going on there?
Not so much later, someone in a jogging jacket went in the house, panting. Only those with permission or someone related to us could go in… Who could he or she be? When that person took off the hoodie, it was revealed that it was a woman but that woman was actually Suguha! Finally, someone finally came back but why did she come home this late and how come Otou-san and Oka-san hasn't come back with her? Otou-san… Oka-san… where are the both of you?
"Sugu-chan… Where's Otou-san and Oka-san?" I felt very much worry for my parents which made her just give a saddened expression.
"They… They are trapped inside a game again…" She responded reluctantly which made me feel like breaking apart… They were trapped again?!
"H-How?! What happened in the testing, Sugu-chan?" I shivered due to my intense fear that I may never see them again… "I-I will rescue them!"
"I know you want to rescue your parent but think about it first… The Game Manager of that game even trapped Onii-chan… the savior of Sword Art Online and the one who defeated Oberon from Alfheim Online…" Suguha warned me as I shook my head. "The GM in that game must be very powerful to trap him like that. Before I barely escaped the testing with some other people, I heard something about experimentation…"
"… I know you have an extra copy of the game… please give it to me." I have already decided my action of what I shall take. "With my friends, we will rescue the ones trapped inside that game… I will conquer a game like my father… I will defeat Infinite Resolve Online and finish it like what Otou-san and Oka-san did…"
"…I guess I cannot stop you… I'll join you as well since you will need someone like me for this. Silica-san and Sinon-san have also escaped but she has already started going to her house so that she could break it to her children. Silica on the other hand, is here to tell her son, Yanaihara Chitaka-san something." She crossed her arms as Keiko came in the room with her hair down due to the drizzled that started suddenly a while ago.
Yanaihara Keiko came in the room with tears still flowing from her eyes… I know separation is very bad but judging from Silica-san's reaction, the separation must have had some sort of sacrifice to make some of the testers escape… After some exchanged words from Silica and me, I discovered that the only ones that were able to escape were: Suguha, Shino, Keiko, Klein, Agil and Lisbeth… It seems like only 6 were able to escape while all the other testers including my parents are captured and being experimented… I cannot let this be…
I haven't seen Sinon-san for a few weeks now, lest meet her. She has two children, a boy and a girl. The boy who is one of my senpais (or upper class-man) has his looks from his father but analytic and cool-headed personality from his mother. The girl is a close friend of mine and she's in the same class as mine. She has her looks from her mother and even wears glasses like her and she has the rash and confident personality from her father.
The names of these two are Okudaira Tasuko (the older boy one) and Okudaira Shikumi (the younger girl one). The older one is a close-quarter combat fighter like his father while the younger one is a long-range attacker much like her mother, Shino.
After 30 minutes of preparation, I logged in Infinite Resolve with Suguha (or Leafa) and Keiko (or Silica). My avatar seems to be just like me in the real world but with somewhat light black armor like Otou-san and a rapier just like Oka-san. I don't know the secrets that dwell in my avatar but I must use them to rescue them… Otou-san once showed me all the games he played like SAO, new ALO and GGO. I played ALO and GGO but not SAO since there was already a new Aincrad in ALO so I decided to play there with my friends.
I only noticed now that Infinite Resolve is actually like the combo of the three… My ALO magic as a Spriggan was here but I could feel cold metal pistols hanging on my belt which can change course of bullets using Spriggan magic while the SAO part was embedded on my clothing and this rapier… These are the weapons that will save them… all of them.
The only skill that I currently know how to use for the time being is Vorpal Barrage… I thought it was Vorpal Strike but it seems due to the new game, it has changed. Everyone that is planning to save the others have already logged in with me including a hesitant Chitaka. Most of the players with me right now are the children of those who were captured like: Deira's child, Figo's child, Havuki's child, Yumi's child, Mishoro's child and Shino's children.
They all had some characteristics from their parents like their hair of eyes. My crush, Zukiro Mizuso (the child of Deira) was planned that we should split up in teams so that the levelling up would be faster and I quickly agreed to this… Sadly, I was teamed up with Yanaihara Chitaka but at least Aunt Sugu (Leafa) and Silica were with me… We all split up into our corresponding teams and wandered the first Floor where everything begins… This new 100 Floor battle is about to begin… Watch me, Otou-san and Oka-san…
End of Extra Scene
End of Chapter 29
Next Chapter: Location Acquired
Next Extra Scene: Cooking Trouble Part 2